Rodenbach Grand Cru

Brewed by Brouwerij Rodenbach (Palm)
Style: Sour Ale
Roeselare, Belgium

750 ml bottle from Liar’s club. Poured a murky chestnut brown with a big khaki head that receded to 1/4 inch. The aroma was complex with sour fruits in the forefront--mostly grapes but also cherries and currants; also present are notes cognac and oak. The flavor is pleasingly sweet and sour with elements of sour grapes and sweet currants. Very nice effect. The mouthfeel was a bit thin but it seemed o suit the ale well, what was a bit distracting was a slightly gritty and astringent mouthfeel that developed during the finish. The finish was otherwise long and sweet with lingering cherries. Overall: If I was to brew a sour beer this is what I’d shoot for. Recommended.

Bottle. Sour vinious aroma, with hints of toffee and musty yeast. Flavor is woody, lightly fruity sourness.

Amber reddish colour with small head.Taste of Grapes and Raspberrys,slight sour but mild.My first sour ale so its was o.k.

12 oz. bottle. Amber red pour with thin tan head. Aroma of cherry and oak. Little carbonation. Taste of sour cherry and some apples with a really smooth finish.

On draft @ O’Brien’s. served in a trappist glass, poured a deep amber with a hint of a ruby glow. My initial reaction to the aroma was the little coke bottle candies. Other aromas of sour cherries and vinegar. The bartender was pissed i didn’t say it right the first time.....lol

Poured into a Roenbach Grand Cru tulip. Poured very deep amber with a small off-white head that left spotty lacing. The aroma was tart black cherries, oak, vanilla and barnyard funk. The favlour was cider-like and tart, with a decent amount of acidity, but nowhere near was a gueuze has. There were notes of licorice, vinegar, orange peel and a ton of tart, sweet cherries. Dry, champaign-like finish and a relatively full body and oily mouthfeel make the palate nice and suitable for the tart, robust flavours. I nice lingering of face-puckering sour apples and cherries coats the mouth. I like this better than the original.

Unusual aroma.. sour, hint of cherries and yeast. Dark brown amber color. Light carbonation on the tongue. Starts fruity with a tart sourness. Such an unusual beer. A little acidic. Would love to find another one of these. Found this beer at Grapes of Mirth in Columbus.

I’m not sure how I haven’t rated this.. Bottle, BB 8/24/08. Poured clear coppery amber with a creamy initial cap of tan head. Sour oak and cherries were awesome on the nose.. sweeter cherry meat and dry yeasty funk came through shortly afterward.. sweeter than expected, yet very good! The flavor found sour vinegar and cherry skins on the tip of the tongue with seeds and funky lemon notes tailing afterward.. dry, powdery sweet cherry dust showed on the middle, and the finish was sour, dry, and cherry-ey. Well-balanced with a fine use of the oak-aging. Great stuff!